If you are looking for a quick pick-me-up, skip the afternoon coffee or sugary snack and instead try this quick and effective yoga pose: the Downward-Facing Dog, a revitalizing pose that is used traditionally to:
Garlic is more than a culinary mainstay that can add flavor to meals; it is a natural, traditional medicine that has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Regular consumption of garlic has been linked with:
1.Improving overall cholesterol levels
2.Lowering blood pressure and decreasing clot formation, thus reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack
3.Combating respiratory infections
4.Minimizing symptoms of common colds, including sore throats
5.Reducing fungal or yeast infections
Eating raw garlic (chopped or mashed) releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air. Garlic loses its antibiotic properties when you cook or dry it, and commercial garlic capsules do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb.
You can make raw garlic more palatable by chopping it fine, mixing it with food, and eating it with a meal, or cut a clove into chunks and swallow them whole like pills.
It's Summer, and temperatures are still sky-high. Watch out for sun poisoning.
Sun poisoning is a layman's term for the symptoms that can accompany severe sunburn, such as nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and headache. It should not be confused with sunstroke (also referred to as heatstroke), a medical emergency that occurs when the body overheats to the point that it can no longer regulate its internal temperature.
You can help prevent sun poisoning by remaining indoors during peak daylight hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the summer months), wearing protective clothing and using sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. If you do get sun poisoning, stay out of the sun and try the following to help alleviate the symptoms:
1.Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
2.Take a cool bath and pat dry - don’t rub your skin, which can cause further irritation
3.Apply a cold washcloth or ice to areas that are swollen or itching
4.Take an aspirin or other NSAID to help reduce swelling and inflammation
5.Apply aloe to any affected areas, but avoid oils or anything that contains potential irritants such as fragrances and exfoliants
6.Be aware that you should seek immediate medical attention if your temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or if you experience vomiting or extreme pain
Ever feel anxious when speaking in front of an audience? Some jitters in such situations are normal, but if your life is severely restricted by fears of being criticized, embarrassed, or humiliated in public situations, you may have social phobia or social anxiety. This excessive fear may be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, or by factors such as low self-esteem, past rejection by peers, poor social skills, or a history of public embarrassment. Panic attacks are a common reaction among those with social anxiety, and can cause heart palpitations, trembling, blushing, nausea, lightheadedness, stomach discomfort, shortness of breath, and heavy sweating.
The good news is that there are natural ways to address social anxiety, and these simple tips are also effective against other forms of anxiety. Try the following:
1.Avoid coffee and other forms of caffeine; stimulants can heighten anxiety.
2.Practice breathing exercises, an effective relaxation technique.
3.Consider passionflower, a natural, mild sedative that's safer than pharmaceuticals. The recommended dosage is one dropperful of a tincture in a little warm water, or two capsules of the extract, up to four times a day as needed.
4.Consider supplementing with B vitamins and magnesium, which are sometimes helpful in dealing with the symptoms of anxiety.
5.Consider seeking professional therapy. Exposure therapy can slowly introduce you to the specific situations you fear, and hypnotherapy can give you a sense of what it feels like to be relaxed and open in those settings.
An estimated 70 percent of the U.S. population has diets deficient in vitamin D. Recent study of this essential micronutrient has demonstrated its central role in maintaining health. Decreased or insufficient levels of vitamin D have been linked to:
1.Suppressed immunity - our innate systems of defense may not function efficiently without adequate vitamin D, allowing increased susceptibility to infectious agents.
2.Increased risk of chronic disease - low levels of vitamin D have been associated with a higher than normal risk of heart disease and several kinds of cancer.
3.Heightened inflammation - vitamin D is a key cofactor in regulating inflammation throughout the body.
I recommend prudent daily sun exposure to support the natural production of vitamin D in our skin, as well as speaking to your doctor about checking vitamin D levels and supplementing if necessary.
Meditation is simply directed concentration, and involves learning to focus your awareness and direct it onto an object: your breath, a phrase or word repeated silently, a memorized inspirational passage, or an image in the mind's eye. The benefits of meditation are numerous, and include:
1.Helping lower blood pressure
2.Decreasing heart and respiratory rates
3.Increasing blood flow
4.Enhancing immune function
5.Reducing perception of pain
6.Relieving chronic pain due to arthritis and other disorders
7.Maintaining level mood
8.Bringing awareness and mindfulness to everyday aspects of life
A simple form of meditation that can be practiced by anyone is to walk or sit quietly in a natural setting and allow your thoughts and sensations to occur; observing them without judgment.
You are probably sick of hearing "new" studies telling you to do this or eat that to live longer and feel like you did in your twenties.
Despite all the medical advances available today, the most effective and the most practical advice to living a long and healthy life can be found in our past.
Here are the top twenty time-tested healthy habits that have survived for centuries to increase the quantity and quality of our life.
1. Eat mostly plants.
(Have meat as a side dish instead of the main dish)
2. Put family first.
(Time with family is priceless)
3. Take a walk.
(Our legs are meant to move us, so move)
4. Drink a glass of red wine daily.
(It's been a practice for centuries, it must be good)
5. Reduce and manage stress.
(Stress kills, so avoid it or deal with it)
6. Have a purpose.
(Be excited when you wake up each morning)
7. Get outdoors.
(We came from nature, go back for a visit)
8. Be grateful.
(Appreciate what you got and you will get more)
9. Have fun.
(Do things that you enjoy)
10. Maintain a healthy body weight
(Move more, eat less)
11. Get regular exercise.
(Push and pull heavy things)
12. Love and laugh
(Preferably both at the same time)
13. Snack on nuts
(The most nutrient dense food in the world)
14. Give something back.
(If you want to get, you have to give)
15. Eat a large breakfast.
(Your mother was right...again)
16. Eat a medium lunch
(It's a lunch break, not a lunch buffet)
17. Eat a small dinner
(Enough eating already)
18. Drink plenty of water.
(It's the basis of all living things)
19. Sleep when it's dark.
(There is a reason why we can't see in the dark)
20. Learn new things.
(You live, you learn)
